Tool for cleaning walls or the like



Oct. 21, 1969 N. BATISTELLI TOOL FOR CLEANING WALLS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 19, 1968 FlBl- F Ill 5- El.

FIE-L7 INVENTOR Alfuo BAns-rmu BY v i4 77. film United States Patent Oflice 3,473,700 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 3,473,700 TOOL FOR CLEANING WALLS OR THE LIKE Nello Batistelli, 9929 S. Downey and Stanford Bridge Road, Downey, Calif. 90240 Filed Jan. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,122 Int. Cl. B6711 /64 US. Cl. 222-174 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to general purpose extension tools for cleaning walls, windows or the like and for applying paint, insecticides or the like to remote locations.

Pressurized containers of the aerosol type are commonly available which contain various cleaning fluids, paints, etc. Such containers are very convenient to use in locations which are within easy reach. Extension handle devices have been proposed heretofore for extending the reach of such containers and for remotely controlling the same. However, those extension devices of which I am aware are generally quite complicated and involve many parts which must be properly assembled and are therefore relatively costly and subject to damage due to abusive use.

It therefore becomes a principal object of the present invention to provide an extension tool of the above type which is inexpensive to manufacture and can be made of a minimum number of parts.

Another object is to provide an extension tool of the above type in which different pressurized containers may be quickly and readily interchanged.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extension tool of the above type which will withstand hard usage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above type in which handles of different lengths can be used while permitting control of the pressurized container at any point along the length of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above type in which a sponge, squeegee or the like may be carried along with a pressurized container for dispensing a fluid and used alternately or in combination with such container.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a holder, with parts in section, embodying a preferred form of the present invention and showing the same gripping as aerosol type fluid container.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pole handle and anchoring means for the lower end of the cord.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the holder and is taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of an auxiliary discharge member.

Referring to the drawings, the holder, generally indicated at 11, is formed mainly of a one-piece plastic construction, being molded of a suitable plastic, such as that known as polypropylene. The holder comprises an elongate recessed body portion 12 including side walls 13 and spaced cross webs 14. Threaded bosses 15 are formed on the upper and lower cross webs of the body member to receive clamp screws 16 effective to clamp a pole handle 17 within the body recess. A tongue 18, also integral with the body portion, extends into its recess and is adapted to fit within a notch 19 in the upper end of the pole handle 17 to prevent relative rotation between the holder and the pole handle.

Spaced upper and lower containing holding arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 are formed integral with the body portion 12 and in two pairs at the upper and lower ends, respectively, thereof. The arms extend mainly from the same side of the body portion and the arms of each pair are spaced apart, as shown in FIG. 4, to frictionally grip a pressurized container 24 of the aerosol type. The latter is of a well-known construction and comprises a main cylindrical portion 28 and top and bottom circumferentially extending beads 25 which secure the top and bottom of the container to the main cylindrical portion. A valve knob 26 is mounted on top of the container and when pressed down it opens a valved passage (not shown) permitting fluid under pressure within the container to pass out through an orifice 27 in the side of the knob and to be ejected in the form of a spray.

The container 24 is preferably snapped into place between the pairs of holding arms with the upper head 25 thereof engaging the upper edges of the arms 20 and 21, thus preventing endwise movement of the container downwardly relative to the holder. When in this position, the knob 26 lies directly below an actuating arm 30 extending integrally from the top of the body portion 12.

Brace elements 31 are formed integrally between the free ends of vertically aligned ones of the holding arms and each is formed into a vertical channel 32 aligned with guide holes 33 and 34 formed in the arms. An actuating cord 35 passes through a hole 36 in the actuating arm 30 and through the guide holes 33 and 34, and along the insides of the channels 32. The two portions of the cord are joined together at 37 and are removably attached at 38 to a bracket 40 in spaced relation to the pole handle 17. The bracket is slideable along the pole handle and may be secured at any point there- :along by a clamp screw 41 threaded into the bracket.

The pole handle is made up of one or more of tubular pole lengths, i.e. 42 and 43, each pair of such lengths being coupled together by a coupling 44 which is screw threaded into the adjacent ends of abutting pole lengths. A handle 45 is suitably attached to the lower end of the lower pole length.

The cord 35 may be provided in different lengths, depending on the number of pole lengths used, and the bracket 40 is preferably adjusted to apply an initial tension to the cord. In this case, the valve knob 26 may be actuated to release a spray of fluid by merely deflecting the cord toward the pole handle at any point along the length of the pole handle, causing the actuating arm 30 to deflect sufliciently to engage the valve knob. 26. Thus, the container valve may be conveniently controlled regardless of where the pole handle is gripped along its length.

A tool supporting post 46 is supported by the holder parallel to the body portion 12 and for this purpose it is formed integral with an arch 47 integral at its lower ends with the free ends of the holding lat-ms 20 and 21.

The post 46 is formed of a central web 54 and arcuate edges 55 adapted to receive a suitable cleaning tool, such as a sponge or squeegee, shown in dot-dash lines 48. The latter has a tapered tubular handle portion 50 which is fitted over the post and is suitably attached at its upper end to a sponge or like cleaning element 51.

In using the tool for cleaning walls, floors, etc., a container 24 of cleaning fluid is snapped into place between the holding arms and the sponge element 48 is mounted on the post 50. The sponge element 51 may then be guided over the surface to be cleaned while the cord 35 is deflected to spray the area being cleaned. During this action, the sponge will scrub the surface while the latter is being sprayed with cleaning fluid.

Due to its one-piece flexible construction, the holder will withstand considerably hard usage without affecting its usefulness. Such one-piece construction also resul.s in a relatively light construction, permitting extensive use with a minimum of fatigue. It should also be noted that the tool may be extended to any desirable length and may be readily dismantled for transporting or storing.

The range of usefulness of the holder may be extended, for example, for applying paint or the like to remote locations by use of a bendable tube 52 (FIG. 7), preferably formed of a flexible plastic. The tube is adapted to be frictionally fitted within the orifice 27 and has a soft wire support member 53 wrapped helically therearound. The wire is bendable to hold the tube in any bent position whereby the fluid may be directed at any desired angle from the container.

When applying paint, a paint spreading roller may be mounted on the post 46 to spread paint on a surface to be painted while the paint is being sprayed from a suitable container supported by the holder.

Although the invention is described in detail and therefore certain specific terms and languages are used herein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized container having a valve at one end thereof adapted to control the discharge of fluid from said container, comprising;

a one-piece member,

said member comprising a body portion having a recess adapted to receive a pole handle,

a first pair of spaced arms integral with said body portion adjacent one end of said body portion for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

a second pair of spaced arms integral with said body portion adjacent the opposite end of said body portion for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

an actuating arm integral with said member and having a portion adapted to overlie said valve,

said actuating arm being yieldable to actuate said valve; and

cord means extendable between said actuating arm and said pole handle for bending said actuating arm to actuate said valve.

2. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 wherein said holding arms extend from one side of said body portion and said actuating arm extends from said same side of said body portion.

3. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 comprising means for removably securing said pole handle in said recess.

4. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 wherein said member comprises brace elements extending between the free ends of respective ones of said first and second pairs of holding arms and integral therewith,

said brace elements having recesses therein for receiving said cord means.

5. A portable holder and control device according [0 claim 1 wherein said member comprises brace elements extending between the free ends of respective ones or said first and second pairs of said holding arms and integral therewith,

said member further comprising a post for receiving a cleaning tool,

said post being integral with the free ends of said first pair of arms and extending above said first pair of holding arms.

6. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 comprising a bracket secured to said opposite end of said cord means for supporting said cord in spaced relation to said pole handle, and

means for attaching said bracket in different positions along said pole handle.

7. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 wherein said holding arms are flexible whereby to yieldably grip diametrically opposite sides of said container.

8. A portable holder and control device according to claim 1 wherein said pressurized container comprises a flexible tubular discharge member for said fluid and a bendable support member extending along the length of said discharge member and secured thereto for supporting said discharge member in difierent bent positions.

9. A portable holder and control device according to claim 8 wherein said support member comprises a bendable wire member wrapped helically around said discharge member.

10. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized container having a valve at one end thereof adapted to control the discharge of fluid from said container, comprising:

a one-piece member,

said member comprising a recessed portion adapted to receive a pole handle,

a first pair of spaced arms integral with said recessed portion for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

a second pair of spaced arms integral with said recessed portion and spaced from said first pair of spaced arms for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

an actuating arm integral with said member and having a portion adapted to overlie said valve,

said arm being yieldable to actuate said valve, and

guide means on said member for guiding a cord intermediate said actuating arm and said pole handle,

said cord being attachable to said actuating arm at one end and attachable to said pole handle at the opposite end whereby deflection of said cord will bend said actuating arm to actuate said valve.

11. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized container having a valve at one end thereof adapted to contorl the discharge of fluid from said container, comprising:

a member,

said member comprising a body portion having a recess adapted to receive a pole handle,

a first pair of spaced flexible arms integral with said body portion adjacent one end of said body portion for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

a second pair of spaced flexible arms integral with said body portion adjacent the opposite end of said body portion for holding diametrically opposite sides of said container,

an actuating arm carried by said member and having a portion adapted to overlie said valve,

said actuating arm being movable to actuate said valve,

and

a cord extendable between said actuating arm and said 5 6 pole handle for moving said actuating arm to actuate References Cited Said valve, UNITED STATES PATENTS said cord forming an elongate loop attached at one 1,480,085 1/1924 Linard 239 283 X end thereof to said actuating member, and 3,039,657 6/1962 Meuwly 222 174 means on said arms forming guideways for guiding 5 3,229,858 1/1966 L h 222 174 2,787,501 2/1957 Tuma 222-174 opposite strands of said loop. 12. A portable holder and control device according ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner to claim 11 comprising a tool supporting element integral with said first pair of arms for Supporting a tool. 10 H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner 

